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Mike Milbury charged with assaulting boy at son’s game

Hockey analyst Mike Milbury is accused of grabbing, shaking and threatening a 12-year-old player after a peewee game in the Massachusetts town of Brookline.

Hockey analyst and former Bruins defenceman Mike Milbury has been charged with accosting a 12-year-old hockey player at a rink near Boston. (Glenn Cratty / GETTY IMAGES)

By Amy DempseyStaff Reporter

Fri., Dec. 16, 2011

As a Boston Bruins defenceman, he famously pulled off a spectator’s shoe and slapped him with it.

Now a hockey dad and fiery Hockey Night in Canada commentator, Mike Milbury is accused of grabbing, shaking and threatening a 12-year-old player after a peewee game in the Massachusetts town of Brookline last week.

Milbury, 59, a former NHL player, coach and executive, faces charges of assault and battery on a child, threats to commit a crime and disorderly conduct, Brookline police said Friday.

“Mike Milbury denies any allegations that there was an assault of any kind,” lawyer Daniel Rabinovitz said in a statement.

“He simply intervened in an altercation between his son and an opposing player.

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“No one was struck, no one was injured, and no one was threatened.”

CBC Sports and NBC Sports have both announced that Milbury will not appear on their networks while he addresses the allegations.

“CBC Sports spoke with Mike late this afternoon,” said spokesman Chuck Thompson.

“After a good discussion we both decided that he won’t be part of Hockey Night in Canada broadcasts while he focuses on his personal situation,” Thompson said.

The incident took place on Dec. 9 at the Jack Kirrane Ice Skating Rink, where the Boch Blazers faced off against the Boston Jr. Blackhawks in an outdoor exhibition match known as the Winter Classic.

Police said the trouble started when Milbury’s son, who plays for the Blazers, got into a fight on the ice with a Blackhawks player.

Witnesses told police that Milbury — who is the assistant coach of his son’s team — later charged out onto the ice, grabbed the Blackhawks player with two hands, lifted him off the ground and shook him.

“There were several coaches that stepped in (and broke it up),” said Capt. Thomas Keaveney of the Brookline police.

It is also alleged that he threatened the player, though Keaveney could not elaborate on the words exchanged.

Keaveney said the child was not taken to hospital and was not seriously injured. The investigation began the following day when a parent who had witnessed the incident called police.

Milbury is out of town at the moment but will be summoned for a hearing before the Brookline Municipal District Court, Keaveney said.

In various online chat forums, parents who attended the game and witnessed the incident expressed their shock and outrage.

According to one spectator, “Daddy Milbury erupted like a volcano,” screaming obscenities after his son’s run-in with the Blackhawks player.

“Parents from both sides were disturbed at the language and his actions,” another commenter wrote.

“My kid is so done playing for him,” said another.

Coaches and representatives from both teams did not respond to interview requests.

The Boch Blazers website lists a seven-part code of conduct that parents are expected to follow: “I understand the importance of setting a good example for my child,” part five begins.

“As such, I will show respect for all involved in the game including, coaches, players, opposing fans, and officials.”

Milbury played 11 seasons with the Boston Bruins. He later coached the team, leading the Bruins to the Stanley Cup finals.

He eventually moved over to the New York Islanders, where as coach and general manager he was responsible for a few bad trades, which got him the nickname “Mad Mike.”

As a commentator, Milbury has stirred up controversy on both Canadian and American sports networks. He recently came under fire for using the controversial phrase “pansification of hockey” on Hockey Night in Canada to refer to the NHL’s crackdown on fighting.

In 1979, Milbury participated in an infamous hockey brawl after a game at New York City’s Madison Square Gardens, when he and his Bruins teammates went into the stands and fought with spectators. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q8K7roZu3WU&feature=player_embedded#! Video footageEND of the incident shows him taking off a one man’s shoe and hitting him with it.

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